Power Washing

​In most instances there are elusive areas, too high to climb to wash and some dirt or algae too tough to remove; that's why power washing. Power washing is the use of high-pressure water sprayed by a machine to remove dust, loose paint, chalky film, pollen, and dirt from the surfaces of objects such as; houses, commercial buildings, walkways and other surfaces. Power washing is also referred to as pressure washing or water blasting.

​Power washing is the first essential step when preparing to paint or stain any exterior part of a house. It is crucial that the surface to be painted be totally clean, to allow paint coatings to stick to the surface and prevent untimely “peel” of coatings. As a result, power washing is an indispensable step in professional painting. Any pro can attest to the positive effects power washing in Jacksonville produces.

A Brief Overview of Power WashingPower washing helps to clean and prepare the surface to be painted by removing dust, mold, mildew, pollen, and pollutants. For previously painted surfaces, power washing helps to remove chalking; better known as efflorescence. Efflorescence is due to alkaline/PH changes caused by exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays and other elements. It can cause unsightly streaks and paint failure. So, it's important to get rid of the chalking from the surface before painting.​Using the right pressure washing machine will ensure that the exterior surface is properly prepared for painting. The nozzle of the pressure washing machine will ensure precision and that the right trajectory of water for different surfaces is utilized. Meanwhile, it has to be professionally handled to prevent wand marks or etching of the surface usually caused by pressure at the wrong angle or distance.

The mechanical pressure generated is always expressed in liters or gallons per minute and it is designed with a pump. In some cases, chemicals may be loaded into the machine for a cleaner and effective washing on troubled surfaces.

Soft Clean

Soft cleaning refers to using chemicals and low pressure on fragile surfaces such as roofs, screens and some window areas.

Maintenance

Power Washing the ExteriorIn most cases, the exterior of a building has dirt, dust, mildew, mold, and pollutants, which need to be removed before painting starts. It is not strange to find cobwebs around the building to be painted, cobwebs and spiders, and wasp nests will be washed away during power washing of the surface.

It is possible that some residues are left on the surface; so, it is the painter’s duty to remove them manually, before painting starts as power washing may not remove all chips or peeling. Using too much pressure at close proximity to the surface may cause damage to the surface; so, the onus is on the professional painter to apply discretion regarding the right angle and closeness to the surface.​Finally, the remaining chips on the surface or floor can be removed by hand when they dry. After power washing, it is necessary that the painter cleans the surrounding areas of the removed chips and dirt cleaned from the surface through power washing.